Insulator for rail-joints.



B. G. BRAINEL INSULATOB FOR RAIL JOINTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1912.

Patented Dec. 31,1912.

UNITED strATEs PATENT oFFioE.

BANCROFT G. BRAINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE R AIL JOINT-COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INSULATOR FOR RAIL-JOINTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 191 2.

Application filed July 20, T912. Serial No. 710,717.

for Rail-Joints, of which the following is a I specification.

This 'nventioni r-elates to means for insulating rail joints and more particularly of the divided-fiber type wherein the insulation is in two parts, respectively for the head and base flange portions of the rails, and wherein the different pieces of insulation are separately removable and replaceable.

To this end, the invention primarily has in view a novel fprm of insulator which is utilized as the end post insulation of the joint, and combines with the separate pieces of insulation and metal fillers in such a manner as to more effectually secure and maintain more perfect insulating conditions throughout the joint, by preventing break down of :the electric circuits arising from the metal parts creeping or moving into contact.

" With "these and many other objects in view which will more readily appear as the details of the invention are fully understood, the-same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

Though adaptable for use with the vari-' ous modifications of the divided-fiber type. of insulated rail joint, apreferred and practical embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whieh- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a' divided fiber rail joint, embodying the present invention, and showing the joint bar removed to expose the sections of insulation and the metal filler at that side, the novel form of insulating end post acting as the electrical insulator therebetween. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the joint on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the improved insulating end post.

Like references designate corresponding parts in thesevcral figures of the drawings.

As indicated, the improved insulator, or

insulating end post, is particularly designed for application to insulated rail joints of the divided-fiber type, but possesses special utility as a unit of the insulation embodied in'a divided-fiber rail joint having a modified oneend insulation wherein insulating material is only applied to one rail end beneath the head thereof, and other insulation is applied to the flanges of both rail ends and acts as a base insulation for the joint throughout. In this form of joint, the rail drawings. The illustrated type of rail joint referred toalso includes an upper or head section of insulation 4 arranged at each side of one of the raile'nds, an upper detachable metal filler piece 5 arranged 'at each side of the other rail end, and a base section of insulation 6 arranged at each side of the joint and fitting the base flanges of both rails,said section of insulation extending the full length of the joint.

Eachhead section of insulation 4 for one rail end made of the usual fiber sheet or of other insulating material and is usually formed with vertically arranged keeper notches 7 which are loosely interlocked with the jointbolts to assist in properly holding the same in place. i The metal filler pieces 5 for the other rail end are substantially the same in dimensions, and construction as the sections of insulation 4., and are likewise usually provided with keeper notches 8 that loosely interlock with the joint bolts.

To complete the insulation of the joint, the improved insulator or insulating end post, designated by the numeral 9, is placed between the rail ends. Ordinarily-the insulating end post'for insulated rail joints is of the exact cross sectional area and contour of the adjoining rail ends, butaccordingtto the That is to say, the

member, but also is formed with laterally projecting side extension flanges 18 and downwardly projecting head extension flanges 14. The laterallyprojecting side extension flanges 13 increase the normal width of the vertical web member 10 of the post, and therefore project into the interval or space between the web portions of the adjacent filler pieces 4 and 5, and thus interpose an insulatingseparator at these points which prevents movement of the said filler pieces in a direction that would interfere with or disturb the insulating functions of the joint.

The downwardly projecting head extension flanges 14 are extensions of the under side of the head piece 11 of the end post body, and project into the space between the flanges at the upper edges of the filler pieces 4 and 5, thereby combining with the side extension flanges 13 to assist in preserving the insulating functions of the joint, particularly where metal fillers 5 are employed, so that the latter are prevented from coming in contact with the insulated rail end.

The laterally projecting side extension flanges 13 of the end post body do not extend the full height of the Vertical web member thereof. As shown, these'side extension flanges terminate in check shoulders 15 disposed a distance above the flanged base member 12 of the post and which overlie the upper edge of the base section of insulation 6. This construction provides means for more securely and satisfactorily holding the end post within the, joint in its proper operative relation to the rail ends and to=the filler pieces 4 and 5.

The term filler piece as employed herein has been intended to apply to either the insulation or metal plates, as the improved insulator or insulating end post is designed for application ,to any and all forms of in- 'fianges projecting between and sep sulated rail joints embodying the-dividedfiber insulation.

I claim:- 7

1. An insulating end post for rail joints comprising a body of insulating material having extension flanges disposed at the under sides of its head piece and along the edges of its web member for a portioni of the length of the latter, said extension flanges lying Wholly inside of the plane of the side edges of the headpiece of the body.

2. The combination with an insulated rail joint having separate upper andlower s ections of insulation and correspondinggmetal fillers, of an insulating end post comprr ng a body of insulating material having' its' head piece and flange base member of substantially the dimensional area and shap' of the corresponding portions of the, rail n'ds, said body being further provided wit ex c tension flanges disposed at the un'dei s es of the "said head piece and extending the edges of the web member for a p of the length of the latter and termi short of said flange base member of t post body. p w

3. In an insulated rail joint, the joint bars, separate filler pieces-app of insulation applied to the rails beldv'vi;

joint bolts, and an insulating end post pro-' vided at opposite edges with ,e

the ends of adjoining fillers, said extv flanges terminating in check shoulders o Ir lying the lower-sections of insulation, In testimony whereof I hereunto 'iafii signature in the presence of two witnes s BANOROFT G. BRAIN Witnesses:

E. F. SCHERMERHORN,

E. K. Knnsnnnn. 

